Bird Food & Treats
A budgie, a cockatiel, a big parrot and a finch differ in beak strength and nutrient needs, so one bag of birdseed can't suit them all. The RSPCA advises that seed should be no more than about a tenth of a small parrot's diet.
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Species-Specific Seed & Pellet Mixes
Budgie, cockatiel, large-parrot and finch foods differ in seed size and balance, so buy the food labeled for your species. A mismatch doesn't show at once; it shows in a bird's condition over months.
Pellets vs Seed: The Headline Choice
Every pellet carries the same balanced nutrition, so a bird can't pick out its favorite fatty seeds and leave the rest, as it does with a seed bowl. The RSPCA advises that pellets should make up about three-quarters of a parrot's food, with washed vegetables and some fruit making up most of the rest and seed no more than about a tenth for small parrots. Switching a seed-loyal bird takes patience; see seed vs pellet diets.
Foraging & Treat-Stick Treats
Foraging treats hide food inside something a bird has to work at, like the searching wild birds spend much of the day doing. Treat sticks and millet sprays give a beak something to grip and chew. Both are good rotation items alongside the main diet, in sizes from finch to large parrot.
Millet: A Treat, Not a Staple
Millet spray is the treat most birds can't resist, which makes it a great training reward. The trouble starts when it becomes a big share of daily food, because it isn't balanced nutrition. Keep it small and occasional.
Nectar Diets for Lories & Lorikeets
Lories and lorikeets feed on nectar, pollen and soft fruit in the wild, so seed or ordinary pellets don't meet their needs. A nectar formula, made fresh and offered several times a day, plus fresh fruit, is the core of their diet. The RSPCA notes they need a nectar diet with fruit and vegetables.
Feeding Bowls, Cups & Water Bottles
Stainless steel cups resist chewing and are easier to keep clean than plastic. A sipper bottle keeps water cleaner than an open dish, though many owners offer both. Veggie clips and skewers keep fresh food off the cage floor. Wash dishes every day.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
New bird-food shoppers keep landing on the same handful of questions.
Should I feed my bird pellets, seed, or both?
For most parrots, pellets as the main food plus vegetables, with a little seed as an extra. Canaries and finches are seed eaters but still need fresh greens.
Is millet spray bad for birds?
Not in small amounts, and it makes a great training reward. As a daily staple it crowds out balanced food, so keep portions small and occasional.
Do lories need a different diet from other pet birds?
Yes. They are nectar feeders, so a standard seed or pellet mix doesn't meet their needs. A fresh nectar formula several times a day is the core of their diet.